Safety razor



Sept. 8, 1936. w. F. sTElNMETz Er AL SAFETY RAZOR IN V EN TORS.

Patented Sept. 8, 1936 SAFETY aAzon william F. Steinmetz and sol Rothschild, New York, N. Y.

vApplication July 17, 1934, serial No. 735,547

18 Claims.

This invention relates in general to safety razors and razor blades and more particularly to improvements in safety razors of the magazine type as well-,as an improved blade construction Winch will be inherently suited for use in such types of razors.

We are aware that it is an old expedient to provide safety razors of the magazine type employing continuous or substantially continuous tape blades. We are also aware that it has been previously suggested that such blades be wound and unwound upon spools so as to advance the blade into shaving position in the razor. Such a theoretical suggestion in the past has fallacio'usly 15 been predicated on the idea that as long as a thin blade is used, it may be sharpened to provide a suitable shaving edge and further the blade, be it of the ordinary material used in single `straight safety razor blades, will have the required longitudinal flexibility and pliability to withstand the strains imposed upon it in winding on spools of small diameters without cracking or rupturing. Such a fallacious theory has remained consistently previously unchallenged, or at least no one 25 to our knowledge has either challenged it or suggested the possibility or probability of such now seemingly obvious happening of breakage under such conditions, nor have they suggested anything upon which could be seized as a remedy therefor.

The U. S. patent to Thompson 1,850,902 for Safety razor blade, March 22, 1932, deals with a single safety razor blade for a non-magazine type of razor. The blade herein is rendered for a part of its end portions relatively pliable, the pliable portions being joined by a longitudinal slot.o The purpose here of the slot and pliable portions is to render the blade, or Arather its center portion, relatively more flexible and pliable transversely than it otherwise would have been. This is a. recognition of the strains imposed upon the blade in a transverse direction imposed by the clamping action of the blade holder.

The present invention is among other things the result of appreciation, as a result of actual experience, of the necessity of rendering the blade inherently `flexible longitudinally particularly when a blade of the tape type, whether continuous or substantially so, is used in a safety 'razor 50 of the magazine type. I One of the main objects bf the invention is to provide a safety razor blade that will be inherently exibleand pliable longitudinally, whether the blade is of the single or tape type.

Another object of the invention is to provide a safety razor blade, the main body portion of which will be longitudinally pliable or flexible y throughout relatively to the blade cutting edge. Whether the blade be of the single or continuous tape type.

Another object of our invention is to provide a safety razor furnished with a continuous longitudinally flexible tape blade that has a plurality of effective blade changes in one continuous length.

A further object of this invention is to provide a safety razor with a continuous longitudinally flexible tape blade that may be wound upon a spool to form an interchangeable cartridge for use in such a safety razor. Another object of this invention is to provide a safety razor with a blade seat and guard which' when the blade in its shaving position will hold the extreme cutting ends ofthe blade against the 4flat portion of the blade seat and also against the downwardly disposed ends so as to adapt sthe l curved extended cutting edges of the blade to the more abrupt changes of the contours of the surfaces to be shaved.

The above and other features of this invention together with the various details of construction and combination of its parts will be now more particularly described by reference to the accompanying drawing and as pointed out inthe claims. One form of this razor embodying our invention is illustrated in thel accompanying drawing,l in

which: 'I

` Figure 1 is a view in front elevation, partlyvin section of the razor;

Figure 2 is a view in top plan, partly in section ofthe razor;

Figure 3 is a view in side elevation of. the razor, showing in dotted lines theV open positions of the blade-clamp-cover and magazine door; y 1

Figure i isa view in section taken along line 4--4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a. fragmentary view in perspective of the blade showing the same with its two extreme unsharpened ends or its leader and trailer provided with'apertures for fastening same to the spools;

Figure 6 is a view in perspective of the spool upon which the tape blade is wound, the showing of the blade being omitted;

Figure 'Z is a perspective View of the spring- 50 clip for retaining the blade upon the spool before loading the razor.

In the form of our razor illustrated the handle l0 has at its upper part a, portion Il extending laterally hat, forming the blade seat i3 having 53 a guard edge or a plurality oi' guard te'eth at I4 to guard the shaving or cutting edge of the blade.

of the.blade'iorms a new and improved cutting edge for shaving the more abrupt changes in contour of the surfaces necessary to be shaved. The

'cover 2I, pivoted at 2i', is Valso curved in coniormity to the outer surfaces I4' and I4" to hold the blade in thisdesired position at its both ends.

The blade seat I3 is arranged `with a channel or recess I5, Figures 2 and 4, along its entire extent through which the back or u nsharpened edge of blade 23 runs, and together with the idler sprockets I1 and I1' providedin the seat I3 act to .guide blade 23 in its proper shaving position laterally in relation to guards I4 and I4'. At the rear ofthe laterally extended portion II is a chamber I 8 formed to provide a housing for upstanding lugs I9, integral withv II, and springs 20 secured to the clamp-cover 2l at I6. Springs 20. in conjunction with lugs I3, act to cause the clamp-cover 2l to bear with pressure on the upper surface of the blade keeping it tlat and tightly against its seat when cover 2| isdn its closed position, and also act to keep the clamp-cover 2| in an open position when required for clean- Y ing or reloading, springs 20 being arranged to exert pressure against the side or top oi'. lugs I3 depending on `whether clamp-cover 2I is in its closed or open position.

The blade seat I3, in part, is mouldedlinto the handle I3 and forms the top enclosure of the blade chamber or magazine 2 5, Figures 1 and 4, together with the rear wall 43, the side walls 44 and 45, and the magazine door 32. This cham- 'ber or magazine. 25 is show'n in the uppermost part of the handle III and directly under the blade seat I3.) It is to be understood that this blade chamber or magazine may be placed at other positions than that shown or that it may be separated into two chambers, if desir'ed. Immediate- 1y under the guard teem I4A and parauel therwith there is formed a drip I3', Figure 4, in order to prevent water from entering the blade chamber 25. I

The blade chamber or magazine 25 is provided with two rotary spindles 23 and 25', which are arranged to receive a winding spool 21 and an unwinding spool 21' respectively, which are locked in position on spindles 26 and 25' by springs 23 and 23', integral with the hubs 5I and 5I', respectively, seating themselves by tension in the xecaes III and 50' formed in the spindles 26 and 23'- respectively, thus xing the spools 21 and 21', respectively, securely in place.

The spools 21 and 21 are each constructed with a flange 23 and 23', respectively, onone side only, which is disposed at right angles to the longitudinal axis of their hubs I Aand 5I' respectively. These hubs are slightly wider than the width of blade 23 which is wound upon spools 21 and 21 with the or back edge i'acing towards and touching ilanges 23 and 29' respective ly. Guiding idler sprockets 35 and 35', which engage the recesses or apertures I2 of the tape blade, are so positioned that the unsharpened or backedgeoithebladeiskeptinalignmentwith abbassa iianges 2 and 29' respectively, thus preventing the cutting edge of the blade from contacting or touchingany part oi.' the handle III while being fed to its shaving position. 'I'he hubs 5I and 5I are ared outwardly at their ends 30 and 30', respectively, forming a hollow frustrum of a cone which frictionally engages the conically formed bearings 3| and 3|', respectively, projecting from and integral with the magazine cover 32 to set up a slight resistance to rotation. of the spools and avoid inadvertent movement thereof.

"The magazine 25 and the magazine door 32 both extend outward and upward to the outer- I4most ends oi' the blade seat I3 to the points 34 and 34', respectively, Figure 1, where the blade leaves and entersthe magazine 25, being the outer longitudinal extremities of the shaving posii 45 of magazine door 32 are then movedout of in-- terfering position.

When a. full `cartridge or in other words, spool Figure 6 `with a leader 35 and trailer 36', is put` into the magazine 25, both theblade-clamp-cover 2| and the magazine door -32 are open. The cartridge is placed upon the.top spindle 26. 'I'he leader 35 is shown integral with and as a continuation of the blade. .The leader is formed without a cutting edge and is of suilicient length to enable the operator to thread the blade through its required path without handling a cutting edge as the blade is drawn from the top spool 25 over the idler sprocket 35', over idler sprocket I1', through the guide channel I5 in blade seat I3, over the idler sprocket I1, over the idler sprocket 35, and over the outwardly disposed side of the spind1e31 which may be preferablyoutwardly spring pressed. The leader as well as the trailer is provided with an aperture 4I or other means, for attaching the tape-like longitudinally flexible blade to lug 42, formed in hubs' of the-spools 5I and 5I'. Figure 6 shows a typical spool. The spools 21 and 21' are duplicate in form. After the aperture 4I of the leader is placed on lug 42 of the winding spool 21' the blade is ready for winding. .The magazine cover 32 is then revolved to its closed po'sition and the blade-clamp-cover 2| is then revolved to its closed position when the male members 33 formed on the outwardly disposed ends of the biade-clamp-cover 2| will engage' with the female slots 39 provided in the top of the sides of the magazine cover 32,

fully wound with thetape blade such as 21 in thus locking the magazine cover 32 in its closed position.

The safety razor is designed to be compact and of a convenient useable size. It will thus be appreciated that with the use oi.' an unwinding and winding spool, a blade seat and a guard and thin gauge steel is used for this purpose. `Even then it is necessaryto subject the main body portion, indicated at 23 in Figure 5, to a softening process as distinguished from the cutting edge, indicated at 23 in the same figure, the cutting edge not being subjected to such softening process. The treatment of the blade necessary to produce the relatively hard cutting edge portion longitudinally throughout the blade and the relatively soft, or pliable, main body portion 23 throughout depends upon the composition of the steel of which the blade is formed. In the event that carbon steel is used, the entire cutting edge may be given a proper cutting edge temper. Then by the use of cold clamps the cutting edge portion may be protected from the heat t0 which the main the said apertures l2 function as means to receive the teeth in the train of idler guiding sprockets 35, 35', l l and l1' which keep the blade in shaving alignment.

Fixed to winding spindle 26' of such dimensions as toproject beyond the side walls M and of handle l0 which is arranged to be revolved counterclockwise, as viewed in Figure 1, by the operator furnishing the means tov draw the iirst cutting edge into shaving position as indicated by'numerals marked on the blade that register through the glass protected sighthole 56, Figure 3, provided on the side of the' magazine door 32. It is obvious that this wheel 40 is merely a means for conveying the blade from 'one position to another and suitable gears or other means for such conveying'may beemployed.

To `guard against the operator revolving the notched wheel 40 in a wrong direction for feeding the blade 23, a spring pawl 46, Figure 1, is provided to engage with same.

To retain the blade when wound upon the spool from springing open before it is loaded into the magazine a spring metal blade-clip, Figure 7,

is provided which has a cross piece 50 with arcuate ends 6| and l62 and which is snapped over the wound blade thus holding itsecurely wound upon the spool. After the cartridge or fully Wound spool is placed in its position inthe magazine so that spring 55 engages against the Wound blade and not the blade-clip, the latter is removed by the operator; spring 55 then assuming the functionI of this clip. Similarly a spring 55' is provided to engage against the blade being rewound on the winding spool 21. Y When the entire lengthof the blade has been used and rewound on the winding spool 21' the operator places the blade-clip over the blade and removes the used cartridge from the handle.

We claim: A

1. In combination in a razor, a perforated longitudinally flexible tape blade, a magazine for receiving a winding spool and a storage spool for said tape blade said spools having iianges one of which is inclined for maintaining said blade in alignment, said magazine having an inclined bearing surface frictionally engaged by said ilanges.4

is a notched wheel `2. In combination in a razor, a perforated lon- I Abearing surface frictionally engaged by said iianges, guiding means including idler sprockets adapted to engage the perforations in said blade.

3. In a safety razor, a longitudinally iiexible tape blade, a magazine, a winding spool and a storage spool for said blade, eachof said spools having on its hub a means ofconnectionto the corresponding extremity of saidblade, each oi said spools having a pair of iianges one of which is outwardly inclined for centering said blade on said spool and preventing transverse movement of said blade on said spools.

4. In a safety razor, a longitudinally flexible tape blade, a magazine, a winding spool and a storage spool for said blade, cach of said spools having on its hub a means of connection to the corresponding extremity of said blade, each of said spools having a pair of flanges one of which is vhaving on its hub a means of connection to the corresponding extremity of said blade, each of said spools having a pair of anges one of which is outwardly inclined for 'centering said blade on said spool, a manually operated ratchet for .winding said winding spool and a pawl for engaging said ratchet and preventing movement thereof in a reverse direction. l

' -6. In-combinationin a safety razor, a continufv ouslongitudinally flexible tape bladel having a shaving edgef'a blade seat flat throughout the major portion of 'its length and downwardly curved at either end, a clampingr device including a cover for'holding said blade in shaving position on said seat, means foradvancing and guiding diierent effective lengths of said blade into shaving' position, a -protective guard for the shaving edge of said blade, said guard including downwardly curved guard ends at either end and said cover being correspondingly curved downwardly at each end to clamp the curved ends of said blade therebetween so as to protect the l shaving edge 4of the adjacent downwardly curved ends of said blade and render the same effective forshaving purposes as Well as the intermediate major ilat portion of said blade on :said seat.

7. In a safety razor, a continuous longitudinally flexible tape blade with perforations therein,

a blade seat having a channel i'or guiding and positioning the blade, idler gu'ideisprqckets adjacent said blade seat adapted to engage the perforations and guidethe -blade into shaving position upon said blade )seat and position it thereon, a guard `'edge and guard ends. associated with said blade seat, a blade clamp coverl pivotally connected to said blade `seat at the rear there- 8. lIn a safety razor, a perforated longitudinally flexible tapel blade, a channeled blade seat adapted, to receive said blade in partially overlapping relationship for guiding and reinforcing said blade, bladeengaging members fitted in said blade seat engaging the perforations for guiding-and positioning` saidvblade on said seat,

' idler sprockets adapted to engage the apertures shaving edge of said blade on said seat, said tion of the guard edge has ,to the intermediate' guard edge being provided with guard ends for guarding said blade at the extreme downwardly turned ends of said blade seat, said guard ends having the same relation to the curved portions of the shaving edge of the blade `as the flat porstraight portion of the shaving edge oithe blade on said seat. -f n 1 0. In a safety razor, a continuous longitudi-V nally ilexible tape blade. a winding and an unwinding spool, a magazine and means for mounting said spools therein, a spring bladeclip adapted to fit over said unwinding spool and removable f after said spool has been mounteddin said magazine for maintaining said wound blade in position concentric on said spool.

1l. In a safety razor, a longitudinally flexible tape blade, a spool upon which said blade is wound, a magazine and means for mounting said spool therein, a blade clip having portions adapted to removably fit over said spool and engage said blade thereon, a spring carried by said mag-.-

azine and adapted to normally bear inwardly on the blade wound on said spool, and to also engage said blade between said clip portions while said clip is in engagement with said blade.

12. In a safety razor. a blade having a` cutting edge, a blade seat, said seat being substantially flat longitudinally throughout the major portion of its length with an abruptly downwardly turned end, a clamping cover for clamping said blade flat I against the flat portion of said seat and against the turned portion of said seat, a protective guard for the cutting edge of said blade on the iat' portion and turned portion of said blade seat for rendering the flat and turned portion of the cutting edge on said seat available for shaving purpos 13. In asafety razor, a plurality of longitudinally arranged effective4 razor blade shaving edges, a blade magazine, a blade seat, a clamping cover positioning means in said seat in addition to said cover forA maintaining said blade on said seat, means for feeding said effective shaving edges from said magazine to said positioning means, said blade seat being substantially straight longitudinally throughout the major portion of its length with abruptly downwardly curved ends, said clamping cover holding said blade dat against the flat portion of said seat and against the curved portions of said seat, and a protective guard in alignment with the curved and flat portions of said blade seat for guarding the clamped straight and' curved portions of the shaving edge of the blade on said seat.

14. In a safety razor, a plurality of longitudi portions of said seat, aprotective guard for thev effective cutting edge of said blade on the fiat and curved portions of said blade seat for the purpose of rendering the fiat and' curved portions of said cutting edge on said blade seat available for shaving purposes.

15. A flexible safety bent longitudinally when clamped' in its holder,

said blade being resilient as a whole to the extent that it will resume substantially a ilat condition when unclamped, having a longitudinally extending hard cutting edge, substantially all of razor Ablade adapted to be the remaining body portion of the blade being of a material inherently relatively softer than said, cutting edge to formcontinuous chains of flexing hinges in a transverse and in a longitudinal direc- -tion substantially theentire width and length" of said body portion so as to render said blade flexible in both of'said directions without danger of fracture when clamped in a razor subjecting said blade to the strain of flexing in either or both of said directions/about abrupt turns.

' 416. A flexible continuous tape safety razor blade adapted to be bent longitudinally when clamped in its holder, said bladebeing resilient as a whole to the extent that it will resume substantially a fiat 'condition when unclamped, having a longitudinally extending hard cutting edge, substantially all of the remaining body portion of the blade being of a material'inherently relatively softer than said cutting edge to form continuous chains of flexing hinges in a transverse and in a longitudinal direction substantially the entire width and length of said body portion so as to render said blade flexible 1n both of said directions without danger of fracture when clamped in a razor subjecting said blade to the strai'n of flexing in either or both of said directions about abrupt turns. i

17. In combination in a razor, a continuous longitudinally flexible tape blade, a blade seat, means including a winding and an unwinding spool for advancing said blade on said seat, guide 'members for guiding said blade, said blade having markings thereonv indicating different effective lengths of said blade, a xed restricted aperture in said razor through which said markings on said blade are made visible as said winding and unwindingmeans advances said blade on said seat, said aperture acting as an indicating means for registering when said different eective lengths of said tape'blade are in proper shaving positionv on said seat.

18. In combinationfiii a razor, a perforated lon.

gitudinally flexible tape blade, a magazine for receiving a winding spool and a'storage spool for said tape blade, each of said spools having flanges one of which is smaller than the other so that said blade may be wound upon either of said spools with its cutting edge free of any'bearing surface and said smaller flanges being so disposed as to maintain said blade in alignment on said spools.

WILLIAM F. STEINMETZ. SOL ROTHSCHILD. 

